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Last week, New Mexico Athletics Association Director Sally Marquez shared a presentation on Title IX to the Socorro School Board.
Passed in 1972, Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal funding.
Marquez emphasized to the board the importance of their sports programs offering equitable treatment and opportunities for male and female athletes. She said that the misconception is often comparing sport to sport and equal amounts of funding.
“It’s like a scale. So everything throughout the year is going to tilt that scale up and down. At the end of the year. Is your scale comparable? And that’s what you have to look at.” Marquez said “We’re not looking at equal dollars. We’re looking at equivalence.”
Marquez told the board she recommended preventative monitoring to ensure participation numbers match enrollment and an equitable distribution of resources, including transportation, coaching, and facilities. She suggested having consistent policies for travel, meals, uniforms and fundraising to help avoid disparities.
She encouraged the board not to take anything away from kids to make things equal but rather figure out a way to supplement and support the sports that aren’t getting as much.
Marquez said from her experience, most schools do okay when it comes to managing Title IX but sometimes get in trouble when it comes to money coming in from the outside, such as fundraising, booster clubs, and individuals making donations.
“In title nine, no matter the source of the money, it does count towards title nine, and this is where you start shifting that balance a little bit, because it’s really not the school districts, it’s our outside sources.” Marquez said, “because you will have booster clubs that are more active, or parents that are more active in some sports than the others.”
She gave examples of booster clubs supplementing meals and uniforms so the teams have a larger budget for better items. Although some might argue that if they are raising the money, they can spend it how they see fit, she said legally, this is not true. The school district has ownership over the use of the school’s name, logo, and colors for any fundraising efforts so the funds are ultimately tied to the school’s athletic programs.
Marquez recommended that the district oversee booster clubs and fundraisers to prevent inequities.
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In other business, board members agreed to write a letter to the governor at board member Tara Jaramillo’s suggestion.
With the resignation of Arsenio Romero as the secretary of the Public Education Department, Jaramillo said she was concerned about the 40th day, October 9, coming up and it’s impact it could have on funding.
“They jeopardize the children of our district and to go without a secretary of education is so inappropriate and I feel strongly that we need to consider writing a letter expressing our concerns, especially if we don’t have a timeline for when this will be resolved,” Jaramillo said.
Rhiannon Crespin, director of finance and personnel, explained to the board that part of the funding formula is based on the licensure level, and without a secretary, the Public Education Department (PED) is not currently issuing teacher licensure.
She said they also have one coach who cannot legally be on the field until they are able to get their licensure.
Other items discussed during the meeting:
* A $ 3,000 Whole Foods garden grant was approved. Mrs. Ocampo, the principal, said it would allow Parkview Elementary to expand its edible garden program and engage students in growing their own produce while also incorporating sustainable gardening practices. The grant will be used with a donation of soil and seeds from Lowe’s in Los Lunas to support the program.
* Homecoming week is scheduled for September 9 through September 14, 2024. Socorro Warriors football will play against Estancia on Friday, September 13, 2024, at 7 p.m. The homecoming theme is “Under a Starry Night.” The homecoming dance will be held on September 14 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the football field. The details of a helicopter landing during homecoming are currently being worked on.
* $200,000 from the district’s extra account will go to Cottonwood Valley charter schools to help them meet curriculum needs.
